Bellator once again is doing a two show card on the same night in their return to Dublin. One main event is headlined by rising Irish superstar James Gallagher, and the other main event is between two of the better lightweights in MMA today. There are a ton of fights on these cards, and many young stars can take the next step in their careers.
Bellator 227 Prelims
Flyweight: Blaine O’Driscoll (7-2) vs Jacob Hadley (4-0)- O’Driscoll Split Decision
Featherweight: George Courtney (1-0) vs Cianran Clarke (0-0)- Courtney Unanimous Decision
Lightweight: Ryan Roddy (7-1-1) vs Patrik Pietila (11-7)- Roddy Unanimous Decision
Featherweight: Illias Bulaid (0-0) vs Vitalic Maiboroda (0-0)- Bulaid TKO
Women’s Strawweight: Danni Neilan (0-0) vs Camila Rivarola (2-1-1)- Rivarola Split Decision
Welterweight: Constantin Gnusariev (2-0-1) vs Ian Coughlan (1-0)- Gnusariev TKO
Welterweight: Phillip Mulpeter (9-6) vs Keith McCabe (3-4)- Mulpeter Submission
Featherweight: Richie Smullen (4-1-1) vs Sean Tobin (6-3)- Smullen Submission
Featherweight: Dylan Logan (3-3) vs Adam Gustab (4-4)- Logan Split Decision
Light Heavyweight: Lee Chadwick (25-14-1) vs Karl Moore (8-2)- Chadwick Submission
Bellator 227
Middleweight: Norbert Novenyi (3-0) vs Will Fleury (6-1)- Novenyi Unanimous Decision
Novenyi is seen as the next great star in Italian MMA. He has been dominant in his young carrer, and has shown great takedowns with submissions to this point. He is still developing on the feet, but has shown a great ability to control his opponents once the fight hits the mat. Fleury is an SBG product coming out of Ireland, and like Novenyi tends to prefer fighting on the mat. He also has good takedowns, and is really crafty with his submissions specifically chokes. Both of these guys are developing talents, but to this point Novenyi has a more impressive track record. I believe he will use his size and strength to control Fleury on the ground for decision victory.
Bantamweight: Frans Mlambo (7-4) vs Dominique Wooding (6-2)- Wooding TKO
Frans is massive for the division standing at 5’9, and fighting at 135 pounds. He is a talented striker who likes to use his kicks and reach to exchange from the outside. Mlambo uses his long limbs to sink in guillotine chokes as well, but has struggled when matched up against wrestlers. Wooding is also a large Bantamweight standing at 5’9 as well, and does his best work on the feet. He is very athletic and explosive winning the majority of his fights by knockout. Wooding has the ability to land flying knees, and likes to incorporate kicks into his attacks on the feet. Wooding has struggled on the ground, and both of his losses have come against grapplers. I am going to lean towards Wooding because he is the better striker. I believe he will keep the fight on the feet, and eventually land a knockout blow over Mlambo.
Catchweight (160): Kiefer Crosbie (6-1) vs Hugo Pereira (4-2)- Crosbie TKO
Crosbie is a physical speciman, who uses his strength in the clinch and with his power shots on the feet. Crosbie has solid takedowns, and once he gets top control uses his pressure to control his opponents. Crosbie has submissions, but has won several of his fights by ground and pound. Pereira is a developing fighter who steps in as a last minute replacement. Pereira has decent takedowns, and has boasted solid top control once he gets his opponents down. He is still very green in the striking, and has yet to face high level competition like Crosbie. I have Kiefer winning this fight by knockout, I just don’t think Pereira is developed enough to pull off the upset. Crosbie is too well rounded, and Pereira will have trouble against the step up in competition.
Women’s Featherweight: Leah McCourt (2-1) vs Kerry Hughes (3-4)- McCourt Split Decision
McCourt had an impressive run in her amateur MMA career winning most of her fights by submission. McCourt is not a good striker yet, and tends to lean on her grappling in most of her fights. She has a really good armbar, and will likely try to force the issue on the mat in this one. Hughes will be at a size disadvantage in this one, and has had an up and down MMA career. Hughes is a solid boxer, and shows good composure on the feet. Her biggest issues have come against superior wrestlers and grapplers. I believe this will be a close fight, but I will lean towards McCourt based on her grappling. She will use her takedowns to control Hughes, and could possibly submit her if the moment presents itself.
Lightweight: Benson Henderson (27-8) vs Myles Jury (17-4)- Henderson Unanimous Decision
Henderson is a former WEC and UFC Lightweight champion looking to make another run at the Bellator Lightweight title. Henderson is a tremendous athlete, and has always been known for his unorthodox style. Henderson likes to use his kicks to work the body and legs. He is very quick on the feet, and has improved his boxing over the years. Benson is a good wrestler, and has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When he decided to take hid opponents down they often have a hard time getting back to their feet. “Smooth” is currently riding a three fight win streak coming into this fight. Jury is a former UFC fighter who will make his debut with Bellator this Friday. Jury is a technical striker, and has power in his hands when he connects. He has a solid left hand which tends to be his knockout punch, but he will incorporate leg kicks into the game as well. Jury is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has respectable ground game an understanding of positions. Jury is an average wrestler, but isn’t quite on Henderson’s level in that department. Myles finds himself on a two fight losing streak, and is looking to make an impact in his Bellator debut. I like Henderson in this fight because I believe he has more ways to win. Henderson can dictate where the fight takes place, and understands at 35 years old a loss to Jury will likely take him out of title contention.
Bellator Dublin
Lightweight: Ryan Scope (11-2) vs Peter Queally (11-5-1)- Scope Split Decision
Scope is a well rounded fighter who turned some heads with a good performance against Patricky Pitbull. Scope is light on his feet, and loves to use his kicks to the head, body, and legs. Scope also has solid grappling skills, and isn’t an easy guy to takedown either. He has fought against top level competition in his young MMA career. Queally is a solid striker who loves to push the pace. He never takes a step back, and tends to break his opponents with his forward pressure. Peter has good boxing, but will use his kicks to diversify his striking occasionally. Queally has had issues against strong wrestlers in the past, but has good submission defense and has never been finished. I like Scope in this matchup because he has more tools than Queally. If he avoids getting lured into a brawl he should be able to win striking for from distance or mixing in takedowns.
Welterweight: Michael Page (14-1) vs Richard Kiely (3-1)- Page Unanimous Decision
Page is one of the flashiest characters in MMA today both inside and outside the cage. He is brash, confident, and is known for his theatrics inside the cage. He is looking to bounce back after suffering a devastating knockout loss to Douglas Lima and is first MMA defeat. Page is a skilled striker and athlete that blitzes his opponents. He can also light up his adversaries from the outside with his long frame and reach. He is very quick and powerful with his punches, kicks, and knees. Page has legitimate knockout power, but has shown some struggles against offensive wrestlers. At times, he can get carried away with his antics, and put himself in bad positions in the cage. Kiely is lacking in experience, but has shown one punch power early in his career. Kiely is much more traditional striker who tends to be aggressive pushing forward. Richard has a boxing style, but has stopped a fight in the past with a body kick. Kiely like Page, has had issues against wrestlers and grapplers. I believe that Page will get the victory because he is more attacks on the feet, and has a significant experience advantage. Kiely has never fought someone with the style of Page, and this is a tall order to fill with only four professional fights. However, if Page gets overconfident and leaves himself exposed he could get his chin tested again.
Catchweight (140): James Gallagher (9-1) vs Roman Salazar (13-9)- Gallagher Submission
Gallagher loves to talk a big game, and tends to back it up more times than not. He has rebounded well with two straight wins after his first loss. Gallagher is still a work in progress on the feet, but has shown improvements in his striking. Gallagher has a large frame for 140 pounds, and uses slick grappling to dominant his opponents. He is very skilled with his submissions, and has improved his technical wrestling as well. Gallagher is sneaky in the clinch, and likes to use the clinch to take the back of his opponents winning most of his fights by rear naked choke. Salazar is a journeyman in MMA making coming in as a last minute replacement. Salazar is a UFC veteran who does his best work on the feet. He has really good kicks, and has shown knockout power with his hands as well. Salazar does have some submission skills, but most of his losses have come against superior grapplers. I see Gallagher winning this fight by submission, and should be able to control this fight on the mat. If he chooses to stand with Salazar he is putting himself in danger of being knocked out.
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